Prescriptions

Ordering repeat prescriptions

Patients should order their repeat prescriptions when they have 5-7 days of medication left (if ordered too early it may get declined).

The easiest ways to order repeat prescriptions are:

  • using your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App)
  • using the GP online system, Patient Access, via the link at the top of this page

These accounts show you all your repeat medicine and dosage and you can choose the ones you need.

You can also:

  • fill out a repeat prescriptions request form
  • bring the paper form to the surgery
  • Phoning Sedbergh Medical Practice prescription line on 01539 718191 option 1 and leaving a message on the answerphone.

Collecting your prescription

You can usually collect your prescription from the pharmacy 3 to 5 working days after you have ordered it.

You will need to choose a pharmacy to collect your prescription from. We call this nominating a pharmacy.

You can change your nominated pharmacy at any time:

  • on the app or website where you order repeat prescriptions
  • at your GP practice
  • at any pharmacy that accepts repeat prescriptions

Electronic Prescribing Service

This practice is set up for the electronic prescription service.

This means that for most patients we can send your prescription to your chosen chemist directly saving you having to come down to the surgery.

To get your prescription sent to your chosen pharmacy you will have to ask reception to sign up.

For more information about electronic prescribing services.

Special Assistance

We recognise that some patients may still require assistance with ordering their repeat prescriptions, for example, due to age, mental illness, capacity or if you do not have access to the internet and find it difficult to get to the surgery. In these circumstances, and with the agreement of the GP practice, the pharmacy or appliance contractor may carry on ordering on the patient’s behalf. If a family member, or carer, knows someone who they think needs help ordering prescriptions they should speak to the surgery or pharmacy as soon as possible.

Questions about your prescription

If you have questions about your medicine, your local pharmacists can answer these. They can also answer questions on medicines you can buy without a prescription.

The NHS website has information on how your medicine works, how and when to take it, possible side effects and answers to your common questions.

If you would like to speak to someone at the GP surgery about your prescription:

  • phone our pharmacist after 10am.
  • fill in our medication query form.

Medication reviews

If you have a repeat prescription, we may ask you to come in for a regular review. We will be in touch when you need to come in for a review.

Prescription charges

Find out more about prescription charges (nhs.uk).

What to do with old medicines

Take it to the pharmacy you got it from or bring it in to the surgery. Do not put it in your household bin or flush it down the toilet.

About pharmacists

As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:

  • coughs
  • colds
  • sore throats
  • tummy trouble
  • aches and pains

They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.

Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

Dispensing Patients

‘Dispensing Patients’

People are often uncertain what qualifies a patient registered with Sedbergh Medical practice to obtain their prescription items from the dispensary at the Health Centre – is there a degree of favouritism towards some patients? – is it arbitrary - or what!

However, legally and in our context a ‘Dispensing patient’ is defined as someone who lives more than one mile from their nearest chemist.  Thus for the majority of our patients, anyone who lives more than a mile from Boots in Sedbergh is entitled to obtain their prescription items from the dispensary at the Health Centre.  However a patient registered with us who lives within a mile of another dispensing chemist, such as Boots in Kirkby Lonsdale, is not entitled to obtain their prescriptions from the Health Centre.

Dispensing patients are free to choose to collect their prescription items from a chemist if they so prefer, but patients living within a mile of a chemist are not allowed to collect their prescriptions from the Health Centre.  In the future the system may become ‘de-regulated’ which would enable all patients to exercise free choice in deciding from where they obtain their medicines.